Top 10 Best Samsung S8 and S8 Plus Accessories

The newest Samsung Galaxy S8 seeks to be a locus of control for Samsung devices all throughout your house. It comes pre-loaded with the Samsung Connect App.

This app works alongside the Samsung Connect Home smart hub to centralize control over most devices on the SmartThings platform.

If you pre-order either the S8 or the S8 Plus, it will ship with a Samsung Gear VR and touch controller.

The phones also ship standard with AKG headphones set to retail for $99, further adding value with its still useful headphone jack. (Y’know, not every phone has one these days).

And the list goes on. And on. There’s almost too many devices that work with the GS8, so we’ve highlighted some of the best options out there for extending the influence of your phone. Read on below to see our favorite picks.

1. New Samsung Gear VR

(Samsung)

Across its different iterations, the Oculus-powered Samsung Gear has proven to be the go-to mobile virtual reality headset for anyone with a Samsung phone.

Their 2017 model is designed specifically to work the Samsung S8, though it will also be compatible with phones going back to the Galaxy S6. This version replaces the built-in touch panel with a dedicated controller, similar to the Google Daydream.

This curated virtual experience is brilliantly rendered on your Samsung phone, and then viewed through two adjustable lenses that stretch the image across a 101° field of view.

Any other major changes to the headset are being kept under wraps until its April release date. Check back then for the full verdict on its worth upgrading from the 2016 Gear VR.

2. Spigen Tough Armor Case

(Amazon)

With awesome new upgrades like the S8’s beautiful Super AMOLED display and HDR Dual Pixel camera, you are going to want to protect your phone from all sides. Spigen’s Tough Armor Case is one of the most popular solutions for doing so.

This cases, as well as the Galaxy S8 Plus Tough Armor version, offers dual-layer protection with a shock-absorbing frame and scratch resistant back plate.

The case contours tightly to the rounded edges of the S8, adding a modest amount of bulk in exchange for from all sides. It also has a built-in kickstand to prop your device up while watching videos.

3. New Samsung Gear 360 (2017)

Samsung has taken the opportunity of their Galaxy S8 launch to update their Samsung Gear 360 with some much-needed future-proofing. The 2017 Samsung Gear 360 offers true 4K recording in full 360°.

Last year’s Gear 360 fell just short of this resolution, as did it fail to provide a really solid live streaming experience.

The slimmer and simplified new Gear 360 can live stream with ease, and it can capture your surroundings in five unique viewing modes.

Videos can also be stored on SD cards up to 256 GB. The camera still has a built-in tripod mount despite its smaller form factor. Not much else is known about this device, so you’ll have to check back for price and release date.

4. Yootech Qi Wireless Charging Pad

(Amazon)

If it’s been a while since you upgraded phones, you might not have yet been inducted into the world of wireless charging. This affordable charging pad from Yootech is a great introduction to the technology.

This pad uses Qi wireless technology to wirelessly beam power into your phone’s battery through cases and covers alike. Just note that each phone has a sweet spot for charging, so be sure to line your phone up correctly every time.

5. Anker PowerCore Speed 10000mAh QC

(Anker)

A portable power bank is a must-have for someone who uses their phone constantly. The Anker PowerCore Speed 10000mAh is an excellent companion to a Galaxy S8, as it can use this battery’s single Quick Charge 3.0 USB port to its maximum effectiveness.

The Galaxy S8 will actually be the debut of Quick Charge 4.0, but it will be a while until we see a power bank that can handle these charge speeds. We will update this list accordingly.

7. Aukey Quick Charge 3.0 USB Wall Charger

(Amazon)

The first time you try quick charging will be mark the last time you ever go back to normal speed charging. Samsung’s S8 and S8+ promise to take charging speeds to an even higher level with Quick Charge 4.0 support.

There are no Quick Charge 4.0 chargers currently available yet, but you’ll want to grab one as soon as they are. Until then, you can consider this QC 3.0 charger from Aukey a placeholder. It will achieve close to the same speeds, and still blow the QC 2.0 charge speeds of the Galaxy S7 out of the water.

9. Samsung Pro 128 GB Micro SDXC Card

(Amazon)

Though it seems practically criminal, not every modern smartphone supports expandable memory. Thankfully, Samsung has chosen to keep this user privilege around, as both the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus support SD cards up to 256 GB in size.

For some, opting for the larger 128 GB model of the phone over the 64 GB base model is good enough, but true power users will want as much storage as possible, especially where 4K video is involved.

The SanDisk Pro 128 GB Micro SDXC Card is a great value for under $100, and has an impressive 95 MB/s read speed and 90 MB/s write speed. This enables it to record 4K and 3D recording, plus the fastest file transfers for your money.

10. JayBird BlueBuds X2

(Amazon)

Though the Galaxy S8 and S8 Plus will both ship with a pair of AKG brand headphones set to retail at $99, many users who already own high-end wired earbuds might be more interested in what wireless headphones have to offer.

Let me say this upfront: the data capacity of Bluetooth wireless transmission does create a ceiling on sound quality that means these AKG headphones will play music at a higher bitrate.

Is it by a margin you are expected to notice? Not really. Especially not on the JayBird BlueBuds X2, which are regarded as some of the clearest Bluetooth headphones around.

These headphones are surprisingly convenient, as they connect quickly, have an eight hour battery life, and will not be yanked out of your ears by a passing park bench while you are running.

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